Resolutions or Re-Soul-lutions: Lose weight, control money, control mouth.

Re-soul-lutions: Planning your 2012 Christmas Gift to yourself!

What have you resolved to do this year?  If the Mayans and the ancient druids are right, this year is shorter by 10 days, since the world is set to be “born again” with a “new heaven and a new earth” at the winter solstice, which is the orbital beginning of the new year. It falls on Dec 21st. So if you are going to be reborn ahead of the earth, you better get crackin’.
   But I’ve been making, (and often keeping) New Year’s resolutions for years. I usually don’t have the “lose weight” one on my list, since I only make goals for which I am truly motivated to succeed. But some blood work last summer showed my cholesterol too high and triglycerides nudging the naughty range, and I decided to take control. I’m about half-way there. . .with mental allowances made for the wedding celebrations, travel and the holidays.
  I notice that my three goals, (as listed in the title) each have to do with control. Self control. There is only one other influence or pressure that can affect my behavior other than that which resides in my own heart and mind. That is the effect of a loving Heavenly Father who wants me to succeed when I act in my own best interest. He can and will help us, through the Holy Spirit, to keep our resolve and triumph over our temptations and appetites.  Here is the way I keep my resolutions.
   First, I make my resolutions prayerfully. I ask for help. I ask for reminders before I break my resolutions.
Second, I allow myself chances. . .over and over. If I eat the forbidden fruit of Willy Wonka’s Eden, I repent and do better the next day. If I speak meanly of someone, I repent and desist. I pray that I won’t volunteer information that might set off a gossipy conversation. I don’t usually waste money, but I do need to re prioritize sometimes. I always want to get the most bang for my buck and that takes forethought.

Third, I make a practical plan. Success in goals requires positive behaviors, not avoidance behaviors. So my ‘lose weight’ goal is really a series of good behaviors that will have the side effect of my losing weight, (lowering my cholesterol and getting/staying  in shape.)

Here is my plan. Feel free to borrow it. I’ve tried it out and it works well for me.

Drink a slim fast (knock-off recipe posted earlier can be used in hot milk) cup of cocoa for breakfast each day. (find the recipe in an earlier blog) 2. Buy at least 20 pounds of fresh produce at the market each week and with help from the other folks who live in my house, eat it all. 3. Walk 10 miles a week, either on my treadmill or in the neighborhood in good weather. 4. Eat a tasty, low fat, low cholesterol lunch each day of between 400 and 500 calories. Eat fruit or vegetables for two snacks a day, and eat a bowl of oatmeal or high-fiber cereal for supper.
Note: I have no caffeine, soda, or juice, in the plan.  Caffeine has a diuretic effect and it also dampens the appetite, but as it wears off, you get a headache or anxious feeling that stimulates evening eating. Even if it has worn off during the day, it can disrupt sleep patterns and cause that anxious “neediness” that causes us to reach for a pick me up.
Note also: I read a story reprinted in the Reader’s Digest that said that people who eat the same things every day tend to be lighter weights. I suspect this is the result of not having to make decisions at every turn and looking forward with pleasure to a known meal.
Note 3. Two or three times a week, I’ll have a treat. I’ll control the quantity by serving it on a plate or dish but I’ll really relish it. Sometimes it’s cheese and sometimes it’s sweet, but it’s always part of the plan and I don’t feel a bit guilty.

Goal number two: control money
I am blessed to be too busy to enjoy much shopping. So I’m not usually too tempted to spend money I don’t need to spend. But the main way I can and want to improve is to control food costs.  If I shop at Aldi, I will usually save about 25%. If you don’t have an Aldi nearby, stock up on food items you usually cook with when they’re on sale. Buy enough to last through to the next sale.
  If you haven’t gotten a pressure cooker yet, it’s time!  When meats are on sale, you can preserve them by bottling them in teriaki sauce or bar-b-que sauce, or gravy and then when you’re tired and hungry and might be tempted to stop for ‘fast food’ you’ve already got a dinner ready to be heated and eaten without any work. It’s super easy, (just put the meat chunks in the canning jars (available at the grocery store) and fill with sauce. Tighten lid and process on 15 pounds of pressure for about an hour. There will be instructions and recipes in your pressure canner.) You can also do stews and soups this way. My favorite of all is homemade chicken gumbo soup. It’s yummy, filling, and low calorie! (I’ll post the recipe in a separate post) My favorite type of pressure cooker is the Mirro (matic) in the 12 quart size. I also have a 6 quart pressure cooker for smaller quantities.)
Donate the clothes you don’t like to wear and while you’re at the thrift store, find something you DO like and buy it. Just one thing. If you don’t find anything, slip over to Kohls and check out their clearance sales.  They sometimes have clearance merchandise priced lower than thrift stores.

Christmas shop all year. . .Especially in the few months right after Christmas. Clearances can save you a bundle of money and time later in the year.

My last goal, to control my mouth is the most difficult of all. Jesus said that it was not what we put into our bodies that defiles them, but what comes out of the fountains of the heart. But I do know that I can increase my faith, love and peace by avoiding stirring up contention or trouble or spreading gossip.  I do not accept the excuse that truth justifies the repeating of facts. I know I am far too opinionated to relate information about anyone without expressing my opinion. My goal is not so much to avoid speaking about others as it is to repeating only the good or constructive, purposeful information about others. I reserve the right to criticize public figures who I believe are deceiving people, (voters) are disingenuous, or are immoral. I suspect that the less hateful, contentious and gossipy I am, the more weight my opinion will carry when I DO criticize. (So as I LOSE weight by controlling what goes into my mouth, my opinions will GAIN weight as I control what comes out! Brilliant!)
 
So every morning, I’ll ask my Heavenly Father to give me control over my appetites, my behaviors and my communication. I’ll go forward in faith and hope and cheerfully start over as many times as it takes.  I’ll check back with you in 353 days. . .or the end of the world, which ever comes first.